The provisions of this article shall apply to contracts by
public utility districts as provided for in the Public Utility
District Act pursuant to Division 7 (commencing with Section 15501)
of the Public Utilities Code.

All bidders shall be afforded an opportunity to examine
such plans and specifications, and the board shall award the contract
to the lowest responsible bidder. The plans and specifications
adopted shall be attached to and become part of the contract.

All bids for construction work submitted pursuant to this
article shall be presented under sealed cover and shall be
accompanied by one of the following forms of security:
(a) Cash.
(b) A cashier's check made payable to the district.
(c) A certified check made payable to the district.
(d) A bidder's bond executed by an admitted surety insurer, made
payable to the district.
Upon an award to the lowest bidder, the security of an
unsuccessful bidder shall be returned in a reasonable period of time,
but in no event shall that security be held by the district beyond
60 days from the time the award is made.

Nothing in this article prohibits the board from doing or
causing to be done directly by the district, and without any
contract, any or all work necessary or proper in or about the making
of all current and ordinary repairs or in or about current and
ordinary upkeep or maintenance.

Upon the determination of the board by an affirmative vote
of two-thirds of its members that all bids submitted are
unsatisfactory or are excessive, the district may do any necessary
and proper work and make any necessary and proper expenditures in
lieu of contracting for the performance of such proposed work.

A contract made under this article shall not be altered or
changed in any manner, except when first ordered by a vote of
two-thirds of the board, and with the consent of the contractor. The
particular change or alteration shall be specified in writing and its
cost agreed upon between the board and the contractor. In no case
shall the board pay or become liable to pay for any extra work done
or extra material furnished.

Except as otherwise provided in this article, the board
may annually advertise for sealed bids for furnishing the district
with goods, merchandise, stores, subsistence, printing, materials,
and all other supplies, and advertising. The advertisement shall be
published pursuant to Section 6062 of the Government Code in the
county in which the greater part of the district is situated.

All bids shall be upon a schedule prepared by the clerk,
showing all articles needed by the district and its several offices
and stating separately the price of each article to be furnished. Any
person may bid upon any article separately.

Notices of proposals for furnishing articles shall mention
the articles in general and shall state that the conditions and
schedule may be found in the office of the clerk of the district and
that the articles are to be delivered at such times, in such
quantities, and in such manner as the board may designate.

In considering bids the board may accept or reject all or
any of them, or may accept or reject part of a bid, preference being
given to the lowest responsible bidder. The award as to each article
shall in all cases be made to the lowest bidder for such article.

"Advertising" means the advertising and publication of all
official reports, orders, ordinances, resolutions, notices inviting
proposals, and all notices of every nature relating to work or
business of the district. Advertising shall not be classified. No
part or kind of advertising shall be charged or contracted for at a
higher rate than any other part or kind is charged or contracted for,
except in the case of the delinquent tax list. The advertising of
the delinquent tax list shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder
on a separate bidding from all other advertising. A square of
advertising shall be 234 ems nonpareil.

Unless the amount involved in the purchase at any one time
of any articles for which no contract has been entered into exceeds
ten thousand dollars ($10,000), the board may purchase the articles
without the necessity of advertising or letting contracts. Where the
cost of any articles for which no contract has been entered into
exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), the board shall advertise for
sealed bids for furnishing the district the articles. In the matter
of advertising, opening and accepting bids, and the letting of
contracts, the board shall proceed in all respects in the manner and
form provided in the case of contracts for annual supplies.